Hallo folks. I have a 1934 open car. I have discovered that bowler hats stay on well in the slipstream as well as looking stylish and appropriate! (I wonder if this was part of the original design's attraction too, that it wasn't lifted off by the horse's speed)
I was told that I needed a fur felt hat, because wool ones won't hold their shape if they get soaked. I bought a fur felt modern bowler but it is a bit 'styled'; the brim isn't absolutely flat to the crown but sweeps down slightly. Not enough for anyone to dispute that it is a bowler but quite enough to annoy me. The hunt is therefore on for a classic version. In the meantime this hat has been absolutely soaked on occasions without any ill effects whatsoever, so fur-felt is certainly up to the job.
So my question is: Are wool bowlers likely to lose their lines when thoroughly soaked?
This was bought about by my seeing an Amylyte hat by Woodrow of Picadilly on Ebay. No material credited, and they usually say if they are felt so I am suspicious. The Amylyte claims to be very light (which is good) and this justifies it not being lined. But perhaps such a hat is designed to only be worn in warm DRY weather?
I was told that I needed a fur felt hat, because wool ones won't hold their shape if they get soaked. I bought a fur felt modern bowler but it is a bit 'styled'; the brim isn't absolutely flat to the crown but sweeps down slightly. Not enough for anyone to dispute that it is a bowler but quite enough to annoy me. The hunt is therefore on for a classic version. In the meantime this hat has been absolutely soaked on occasions without any ill effects whatsoever, so fur-felt is certainly up to the job.
So my question is: Are wool bowlers likely to lose their lines when thoroughly soaked?
This was bought about by my seeing an Amylyte hat by Woodrow of Picadilly on Ebay. No material credited, and they usually say if they are felt so I am suspicious. The Amylyte claims to be very light (which is good) and this justifies it not being lined. But perhaps such a hat is designed to only be worn in warm DRY weather?
